Dec 29, 2013

George Parnham Defending Conrad Barrett, Charged With a Federal Hate Crime


Conrad Barrett, 27, has been charged with a federal hate crime for allegedly breaking a 79-year-old man's jaw in what authorities described as a racist take on the "knockout game." The victim suffered two jaw fractures and was hospitalized for several days, the complaint said.
Barrett's attorney, George Parnham, raised the issue of his client's mental health in court, saying his client has been diagnosed as bipolar and was not on his medication at the time of the attack.
Parnham could not say whether his client carried out the attack, but, "mental health issues definitely played a part in anything that occurred." Barrett "is very sorry for this person," Parnham said, adding that he and his client haven't had much opportunity to discuss the facts of the case.